Page 31 of Caged By the Orc

I feel the rage coursing through my veins, my muscles tensing as I face Grokus. "You're gonna pay for this, you fucking idiot," I snarl, baring my tusks. My voice is low and dangerous, dripping with the promise of violence. "I'm gonna make you wish you'd never laid eyes on her. By the time I'm done with you, you'll be begging for mercy."

Grokus sneers, his ugly face twisting into a grotesque mask of hatred. The sight of him makes my stomach turn. "Big words from a human-lover," he spits, his eyes gleaming with malice. "You could have any female on this continent, Sarod. Any of them! And you chose this piece of trash? You've gone soft, you pathetic excuse for an orc."

I clench my fists, fighting the urge to lunge at him right then and there. "She means more to me than you realize," I growl, my words laced with a conviction that surprises even me. "Josie'sworth a hundred of you, Grokus. You're nothing but a coward who preys on the weak."

"Yeah?" he taunts, a cruel smile spreading across his face. "And that's why I'm gonna kill her after I kill you. I'll make it slow, too. Make her suffer for turning you into this... this disgrace." His words send a chill down my spine, but I refuse to let him see how much they affect me. I know I have to end this, here and now, for Josie's sake and my own.

Without warning, he charges at me, the dagger glinting menacingly in the dim light. I force myself to stay calm, to remember my training.

I'm ready for him. As he lunges, I sidestep with a quickness that surprises even me, grabbing his wrist and twisting hard. I hear the satisfying crack of bone, feeling it reverberate through my hand, and the dagger clatters to the floor with a metallic ring. Grokus howls in pain, a sound that should make me flinch but instead fuels my determination. I'm not done yet, not by a long shot.

I slam my fist into his gut, putting all my weight behind it, driving the air from his lungs with a sickening whoosh. He doubles over, gasping like a fish out of water, but manages to throw a wild punch that grazes my jaw. It stings a bit, a flash of heat across my skin, but I barely feel it through the rage coursing through my veins. My blood is on fire, every nerve ending alive with the thrill of the fight. This ends now, I think grimly, readying myself for the next move.

I wipe the blood from my mouth with the back of my hand, tasting copper on my tongue. My heart's pounding, but I'm not about to let this bastard see any weakness. "Is that all you got?" I taunt, spitting a glob of red onto the ground. "No wonder you had to chain her up. Couldn't handle a human girl otherwise, huh?" The words come out sharp, dripping with venom.

Grokus's face contorts with rage, his yellowed tusks bared in a snarl. He roars, a sound that would make most men piss themselves, and charges at me like a rabid beast. This time, I don't dodge. I meet him head-on, bracing for impact.

We collide with a bone-jarring thud, grappling furiously. My muscles strain as we each try to overpower the other, locked in a brutal test of strength. I can feel his hot, rancid breath on my face, see the madness swirling in his bloodshot eyes. But all I can think about is Josie - her soft smile, her gentle touch. Josie, who's hurt and scared because of this piece of shit. The thought of her suffering at his hands makes my blood boil, giving me a surge of strength I didn't know I had.

I headbutt him, feeling his nose crunch under the impact. The sickening sound of cartilage giving way sends a jolt of satisfaction through me. He staggers back, blood pouring down his face in a crimson cascade. I press my advantage, raining blows on him with all the fury I can muster. Each punch is for Josie, for every mark on her body, for every moment of fear she's endured because of this bastard.

My fists connect with brutal force - to his jaw, his ribs, anywhere I can reach. The pain in my knuckles only fuels my rage. I want him to feel a fraction of what Josie felt, to understand the consequences of his actions.

"Sarod!" Josie's voice cuts through the red haze of my rage like a beacon. I glance at her, seeing the hope shining in her eyes. She nods, offering a smile that's both fierce and encouraging. "Get that piece of shit for me."

Her words ignite something primal within me. I turn back to Grokus, a growl rumbling in my chest. "With pleasure," I mumble, spitting blood from my split lip. I crack my neck, ready to finish this once and for all.

I see the desperation in Grokus's eyes as he lunges for the fallen dagger, thinking he's caught me off guard. But I'm notsome rookie fighter; I've been in too many scraps to fall for such an obvious ploy. With lightning-fast reflexes honed from years on the zyrphix pitch, I lash out with my foot, sending the blade skittering across the ground and well out of his reach.

Before he can recover, I seize him by the throat, my fingers digging into his grimy green skin. With a surge of adrenaline-fueled strength, I hoist him off his feet, savoring the way his legs dangle uselessly in the air.

"It's over, you piece of shit," I growl. I stare into his bulging eyes, watching as the realization of defeat settles in. "You lost. And this time, there's no coming back from it."

"Fuck you," he snarls. "Fuck you!"

"Thokk!" I yell out, beckoning my teammate in. "Come help me tie him up!"

Within seconds, Thokk rumbles in and holds down Grokus as he flails wildly against our grips. With a metallic chain, he bind his wrists together as well as his ankles. He howls and screams curses at us, but it doesn't matter.

He'll no longer be a problem for us after this.

"Are we just going to leave him like this?" Thokk asks, staring down at the enraged Grokus on the ground.

I huff. "He made a mistake by picking such a secluded spot. No one's going to find him. And no one's going to help him."

"Damn." Thokk smacks me on the back. "I like the way you think, Captain."

I turn quickly, my eyes scanning the dimly lit room until they land on Josie. Relief floods through me as I see her standing there, battered but alive. My jaw clenches tightly, adrenaline making my hands shake.

"Josie," I breathe, her name a prayer on my lips. In an instant, I'm by her side, my hands hovering over her, afraid to touch her and cause more pain. I start working at freeing her from the chains. "Are you okay? Did he... did he hurt you badly?"

She looks up at me, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "I'm alright," she whispers, her voice hoarse. "You came for me."

The simple statement hits me like a punch to the gut. Of course I came for her. I'd tear the world apart to find her if I had to. The realization of how much she means to me is overwhelming.

I gently cup her face in my hands, my thumbs brushing away the dirt and tears. "Always," I promise fiercely. "I'll always come for you, Josie."

We stand there for a moment, just looking at each other. There's so much I want to say, so many emotions swirling inside me. Gratitude that she's safe, rage at what Grokus did to her, and something else, something deeper that I'm not quite ready to name.